African statesman and former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on Sunday night, joined several distinguished Nigerians including Mr Sam Amuka, media icon and Publisher of Vanguard newspaper, to pray for Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman of Zinox Group, on his 70th birthday.
Obasanjo who graced the thanksgiving meeting with his wife among other dignitaries prayed for more years on earth for Ekeh, whom he described as an “achiever and a very kind man who deserves to be celebrated.” The meeting which held in Ekeh’s residence was organised by his wife and children with opening prayer said by a Rev Father.
Obasanjo who was President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007 described Ekeh as “one of the people who made it possible for people to say the good things they say about me and about my period in government.”
President Obasanjo who never hid his admiration and love for Ekeh showered praises on the tech billionaire for taking advantage of the opportunities he created during his eight years as President.
He said: “Leo Stan Ekeh is a very kind man, an achiever. People have been celebrating you but I particularly have to celebrate you because of what you mean to me. Wherever I go in Nigeria and outside Nigeria, people say to me, you did this and that especially in enhancing both local and foreign investments. An African President, five months ago, even invited me to his country to show him how I was able to create many billionaires in Nigeria during my tenure.
“I celebrate Leo Stan because it is one thing to create an opportunity, it is another thing to find people who will even see that as opportunity and take advantage of it and achieve success with those opportunities. Leo Stan is one of the people who made it possible for people to say the good things they say about me and about my period in government.
“That’s why I have to join your family and every other person in identifying those qualities in you that made you a great achiever that you have been. The lesson for all of us is that in spite of the hardship, there are still opportunities. The challenge is how to identify those opportunities and take advantage of them and individually and collectively turn our poverty into prosperity just as Leo Stan has done.”
Obasanjo, while thanking God for the gift of long life, told Ekeh: “Today, you are celebrating 70 and I am here with you at your invitation. You will celebrate 80, whether you invite me or not, I will be there. You will celebrate 90, you will celebrate 100 and I don’t pray to be there,” he said wittily, eliciting laughter from guests.
Aside Obasanjo and Amuka, others who joined in honouring Ekeh were former Lagos state governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola and his wife, former INE Chairman, Professor Maurice Iwu and his wife, Chairman of MTN, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe and his wife; Mr. Atedo Peterside, Founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank and his wife; Chairman of Fidelity Bank, Mrs Amaka Onwughalu; Managing Director Fidelity Bank, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe; Mr. Udoma Udo-Udoma, Chairman Seplat Energy and his wife; secondary school mates of Ekeh including Charles Oputa (Charly Boy) who came with his wife; Leo Stan’s elder brother HRM Eze George Ekeh (aka Saint George), the traditional ruler Ishi Ubomiri Autonomous Community in Imo State who performed the traditional rites to usher Leo Stan into the traditional club of Elders of Ubomiri; representatives of multinationals with whom he has partnered all through the years; among other distinguished Nigerians and foreigners.
Ekeh, in his response, thanked Obasanjo for adopting him as his son and trusting him. He attributed his success to the prayers and blessings of Obasanjo, describing him as the President who made most of the billionaires in Nigeria.
The Zinox boss, who recalled his little beginning as a mass servant and chorister, said he chose his path early in life, refusing to drink alcohol and smoke cigarette, and keeping to it till this day.
“I am a promoter of trust economy and I believe that trust must define everything you do if you want to succeed,” he said.
He recalled how he woke his parents one night to tell them he was going to start a tech business which sounded strange to them because technology was non-existent in his state at that time.
He acknowledged the role of his wife in his life. “My wife is my strength. I was very clear I was going to marry an intelligent woman. My wife ticked all the boxes for me,” he told the audience.
“I started my business with my school fees and I have been able to build myself and my companies as collateral. People trust me and trust my companies because I was intentional about building trust and integrity in all we do,” he said.
